With heavy hearts, we report the sad news about this iconic musician who gave us so much

Songwriter Chip Taylor — widely recognized as the creative force behind the enduring hit “Wild Thing” — has passed away at the age of 86.

The news of his death was shared on March 24 by his close friend and fellow musician Billy Vera, who took to social media to write, “RIP: Chip Taylor, my friend and songwriting mentor, last night in hospice,” alongside a photo capturing the two together.

Shortly afterward, Taylor’s children, Kris and Kelly, confirmed the loss in a heartfelt message to fans. They wrote, “Hi all — we are sad to tell you that Chip passed away last night. His last days were peaceful. Chip loved the amazing blessing it was to connect with people through music and truly appreciated this community. He considered you all friends. We will miss him greatly.”